Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
ZDNET key takeaways
Linux doesn't usually require antivirus.
If you share files, you should consider using one.
For scanning files and directories, ClamAV is your best bet.
I've said many times over the years that Linux does not need antivirus software. That, of course, assumes you compute in a bubble. If you happen to share files with others, that's another story altogether. Sharing files with Windows users without vetting them could land those other users in trouble -- of a malicious kind.
Imagine that you've unwittingly downloaded a file from some dark spot on the web. You don't check it for malicious code, but you send it on to 50 users anyway. Some of those 50 users then send the same file on to others, which could wind up a vast web of trouble. Had you scanned that file before sending it, you might have known it contained malicious code and would have deleted it immediately.
Also: Thinking about switching to Linux? 10 things you need to know
If your operating system is Linux, what would you use for scanning that file? Your best option is ClamAV.
What is ClamAV
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